Identification-marker for receptacles such as milk-cans



B. F. COMBS.

IDENTIFICATION MARKER FOR RECEPTACLES SUCH AS MILK CANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.H, 1919.

Lm fi fio mama Aug. 3,19%.

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BINNY FRANK CQMBS', OF EAST BERKSHIRE, VERMONT.

IDENTIFICATION-MARKER FOR RECEPTACLES SUCH AS MILK-CANS.

Application filed August 11, 1919. .Serial No. 316,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BINNY F. CoMns, .a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at East Berkshire, in. the county of\ tions and transported to centralstations or distributing points, and when emptied must be returned to the owner or place of origin. Heretofore such receptacles have usually been marked for delivery identification, on a tag attached by a string to the handle, or to some other projecting part thereof.

lVhen handling such cans in transportation, particularly large sizes, the tags are frequently torn off and the identification of the consignee and destination of the can is thus lost; also the farmers and creameries are accustomed to keep their cans of milk and cream intanks of cold or iced water, and when they are to be stored, or to be transported long distances, the cans are usually packed in ice, and then the water softens the paper of the tags and tends to destroy them, and if tied to the handle of the can it is diflicult to see the tag when the cans are packed closely together in a car or freight house.

Metal plates bearing the name of the owner'have been soldered to the side of cans, as also a bracket or pocket for a card has been attached to the perpendicular side of a box or receptacle for merchandise; but such an arrangement would not be practical for a can for milk, cream, etc., for the reasons above mentioned.

My improvement relates to identification holders and markers for receptacles such as disclose to view a card or tag inserted therein, which bears designative or descriptive -matter, such as the name and address of the consignee, the name, quantity, quality, etc., of the contents of the can, while upon the surface of the holder beyond and around the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

card opening, are placed marks and designs to ind cate the origin, ownership, number, net welght, etc., of the receptacle, and also the metal around the opening is provided wlth means located a little back from the edge of such opening, to reinforce the metal or the projecting lip, and to limit the movement of the cards when inserted therein. This may conveniently be accomplished by soldering a wire at the angle between the flat part of the holder and the raised portion around the opening. It will also be found advantageous to produce a projecting bead at the location of this angle, to receive and more securely hold the wire and also to serve as a guard against external blows.

Attaching the holder to the curved or beveled surface of the top of the can insures the holding of the cards securely in place there- 1n, into whatever position the can may be dropped, sometimes with the top down, when they are empty and carelessly thrown into a car to be returned to the owner.

The indication marks or designs on the holder around the card opening, instead of being the full name of the owner, may be the initial letter or letters of the name of the owner, or -a monogram of those letters, as illustrated in Fig. 4, of the drawings.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is an elevation of the top part of a milk can with my identification marker and holder attached to the domeshaped breast, with a card inserted in the holder; Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the top of the can and holder, on line 2-2 of Fig.- 1; Fig. 3, is an elevation of the reinforcing wire around the raised card holding portion of the marker; Fig. 4, illustrates the holder in the form of a monogram, M.H.F. or it may be made in the-form of any other device or ornament and superficially to conform to the contour of the breast of the can.

Referring to the drawings by designating characters, A, is the identification holder, B, the opening therein for exposing the card which bears the descriptive or designating inforce the metal of the projecting lip of the card holder by a Wire or strip of metal, 1 do not intend to limit my invention to a reinforced lip, asthe holder is practically operative Without it.

I claim:

1. An identification marker for milk cans, consisting of a metal holder for cards, the holder being made to conform superficially to the contour of the dome-shaped top of the can to which it is to be applied, to serve as additional means for holding the cards therein, and having an opening to expose descriptive matter upon the card when inserted; the portion of the marker surrounding said opening being provided with a raised head at the inner limit of the project- 2. An identification marker for milk cans, 29

consisting of a metal holder for cards, the holder belng made to conform superficially to the contour of the dome-shaped top of the can to which it is to be applied, the curves thereof serving as additional means for holding the cards therein, and having an opening to expose designative matter 'when the card is inserted; the portion of the marker surrounding saidopening being provided with means secured at the inner limit of its projecting edge in addition to the raised bead thereon to reinforce it and limit the movement of the cards therein.

I BINNY FRANK COMBS. 

